The Kustomrama Photo Collection

Frank Kurtis' 1941 Buick Roadmaster. Known as the "Kurtis Buick Special", Frank's Buick was the forerunner for the Kurtis Sports Car. The build was started in 1946 and completed in 1948. The back of this photo is stamped April 17, 1951. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

A photo of Darryl Starbird's Predicta at an indoor car show. We believe this photo is taken at the 1960 National Roadster Show, where the car won the Car of the Future award. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

A Gentleman's hot rod, a hopped up Duesenberg. The back of this photo reads "Al Serkin's Duesenberg J Special. J-113. 1950." Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Frank Caraway's 1958 Chevrolet Impala at an indoor car show in the 1960s. Frank's Impala, named "Scoopy," was restyled by Joe Bailon at Bailon's Custom Shop. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

A race-ready Model A roadster waiting in line for the races to start. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt.

Another photo from the same race. Car number 18 is named the Speed Smiths Special. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt.

A closeup of the Speed Smiths Special. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt.

A photo of the Speed Smiths Special in the pit area. Photo courtesy of Sondre Kvipt.

Dated April 1956, this photo shows a crowd pleasing Model A roadster at a drag event. Marked 777, the roadster features a roll bar, white tarp, full Moon discs, 1939 Ford taillights and a quick change axle.Do anyone recognize it? The photo came from a collection in Burbank, California.

This photo is supposedly taken at an 1959 or 1960 indoor car show. The car is a 1958 Ford named "Green Stuff", and from looking at the sign next to it, it seems to be owned by a Mal or Mae Sanchez. Body and paint is by "Cano Customs".

Ben Harris' 1950 Ford - The Fordillac. The "Fordillac" is a 1950 Ford owned and restyled by Chicago engineer Ben Harris. Powered by a Cadillac V8 engine, Ben's shoebox was restyled featuring reworked rear wheel well openings, a 1949 Frazer grille and wire wheels.

This photo shows a very nice 1939 or 1940 Mercury custom at a 1950s drag event. The running boards have been removed, and the Merc has been fit with fenderskirts, a 1946 Chevrolet grille and what seems to be a 1946 Oldsmobile front bumper. An unrecognizable car club plaque has been mounted on the front bumper. Do any recognize any of the cars in the photo? The photo comes from a collection in Burbank, California.

This photo shows a mildly customized 1954 Ford featuring a tube grille and shaved hood. The photo is dated August 1961, and it comes from a collection in Claremont, California.

A photo of the Fageol Supersonic as it appeared in the mid 1950s.

Another photo of the Fageol Supersonic from the mid 1950s.

This photo comes from a collection in California, and it shows a 1936 Ford Sedan featuring fender-skirts, ripple-bumpers, spotlight and whitewall-tires up front. The photo seems to be taken in the 1940s in front of a garage, and the baseball-player has a shirt that reads Colton Post 155 American Legion.

This photo of a chopped 1936 Ford Cabriolet with a padded top and at least one spotlight comes from a collection in Sacramento, California.

This photo of Vincent E. Gardner's 1947 Studebaker Sportster is most likely taken during construction as the grille-bullet isn't installed.

Gene Howard's 1950 Buick, also known as Truly Rare at the 1970 Rod & Custom Car Show at the New York Coliseum in New York City.

Raymond Anderegg's 1927 Ford Model T Roadster at an indoor car show around 1960.

The third version of Jerry Sahagon's 1951 Chevrolet at the 1960 National Roadster Show.

Another photo of Jerry Sahagon's 1951 Chevrolet at the 1960 National Roadster Show.

Classical 1939 Ford custom with a chopped top, 1949 Plymouth ripple bumpers, removed running boards, fender skirts, flipper wheel discs and white wall tires in the front. The back of the photo is stamped April 1st, 1951.

Bob Standiford's 1955 Ford Pick Up.

Bob Standiford's 1955 Ford Pick Up.

Bob Standiford's 1955 Ford Pick Up.

The Ernie McAfee/Karl Orr Modified.

Wayne Mahaffey's 1935 Ford.

Ralph Schenck's Streamliner at a dry lakes event.

Custom Chevy Pickup.

Bob Tindle's 1932 Ford Sedan - Orange Crate.

Bob Tindle's 1932 Ford Sedan - Orange Crate.

1940 Ford Convertible with whitewall tires and fenderskirts. The door says Sgt Jesse James.

The So-Cal Speed Shop's 1934 Ford Coupe at the 1953 Bonneville Nationals.^[1]

The 1937 Kurtis Tommy Lee Special at a dry lakes event. Photo taken by Dean Batchelor and published in Hop Up May 1952.

The Spalding Brothers' Roadster at the 1949 Bonneville Nationals. In the background, next to the Ansen Engineering pickup is Bob Morton and George Rubio's 1929 Ford Model A Roadster. Bill Kenz' 1931 Ford Model A Pickup, the Odd Rod can also be spotted in the background.

Charles Clark's 1929 Ford Model A Roadster.

Bill Phy's Competition Coupe

A snapshot showing Leroy Semas' 1937 Chevrolet Coupe at the 1949 Bonneville Speed Week. Anyone recognize the roadsters?

A photo of an uknonwn 1932 Ford Roadster.

Lykin's Retread Inc

This photo was taken by Peter G. Sukalac Photography in Portland, Oregon. On the back Peter has written "Starlite Custom - Jan 57".

The photo below shows the So Cal Special Streamliner after it flipped over 1951 Daytona Speed Week. The Streamliner was sponsored by Hot Rod Magazine, and driven by Bill Dailey.

Oregon 1947.

Bill Moeller with Michelle McClure in the engine compartment of the Car Craft Dream Rod. Photo taken December 22, 1963.

Robert Larivee, Jr in the Car Craft Dream Rod. Photo taken December 22, 1963.

Norm Grabowski's Kookie T. If you know where and when this picture of Norm Grabowski's Kookie T was taken, mail us at mail@kustomrama.com.

Dave Cunningham's 1940 Ford Sedan - The Li'l Beauty. This photo was taken at the same show as the picture above showing Norm Grabowski's Kookie T. The photo shows the Li'l Beauty after Barris Kustoms restyled it for the second time. If you know when and where this pictulink titlere is taken, mail us at mail@kustomrama.com

1957 Chevrolet with Dual Headlights.

Jack Calori's 1929 Ford Model A Roadster.

1932 Ford 3-Window Coupe, March 1959.

Unknown roadsters.

Unknown roadsters.

Unknown roadsters.

The Polaroid Photo Album, Davenport, Iowa 1956. These photos were taken at the grand opening of the Village Shopping Center in Davenport, Iowa in 1956. According to Ed Biggs, the car show was held to draw people to the newly opened center. At the time, several members of the Rock Island Piston Pushers were into showing their cars at shows, and cars all the way from Chicago came for the opening because the Shlitzers of Harvey was a sister club to the Pushers. The DeWitt Roamans was another sister club that attended the show. At the time, cars in the area were just starting to get accepted as hot rods and custom cars, the car shows were just starting out, and people were very eager to promote their passion. Ed Biggs remember going to the show with a friend. He also remembers how surprised he was at the turn out and the high quality of cars that showed up.^[2] This photo shows Gene Strieter's 1950 Mercury.